Horror fans are familiar with Blumhouse's production model of keeping budgets low and typically between $3 million and $5 million. The idea is that even if a film doesn't make a ton of money at the box office, a profit can still be made. Many films have done very well, but there are a few movies that have made under $20 million.
According to Box Office Mojo, there are five Blumhouse horror movies that have made the least amount of money at the box office. One is a 2019 remake of a classic slasher and some of the others have flown under the radar. One stands out for having a particularly great plot and awesome characters.
Dark Skies (2013): $17,418,667
Although Dark Skies is a great alien invasion horror movie, it didn't make a ton of money at the box office, making less than $18 million. IMDb puts the movie's budget at $3.5 million so the movie still made a profit.
Lacy (Keri Russell) and Daniel Barrett (Josh Hamilton) are stressed out about money, which is affecting their marriage, but their lives are ruined by the alien presence in their home which affects their two sons. Blumhouse excels at putting heart and character development into their films and Dark Skies shares a lot about the couple before the supernatural stuff starts happening. Every moment is well-paced and the conclusion is stunning and something that will make people think for a long time. It's fair to say that this is the best lowest-grossing Blumhouse horror movie.
The Darkness (2016): $10,753,574
Chances are that horror fans might not have heard of the 2016 film The Darkness. It's equal parts family drama and horror as the Taylors head to the Grand Canyon, hoping for a fun vacation. Unfortunately, the family finds demons there. Kevin Bacon plays the husband and father Peter.
According to IMDb, The Darkness was made for $4 million, so even though it made less than $11 million and isn't one of the highest-grossing Blumhouse horror movies, it still did pretty well. The movie wasn't very well-received by critics, either, earning just one star on Roger Ebert's site. The general feeling is that there isn't much plot going on here.
Black Christmas (2019): $10,429,730
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There are two Black Christmas remakes in 2006 and 2019, and it can be argued that the 2019 film is trying hard but doesn't deliver on its concept and ideas. The movie made under $11 million at the box office. IMDb puts the film's budget at $5 million so like the other previous movies, it did make more than its budget.
The movie takes place at Hawthorne College and focuses on sorority sisters who are dealing with a cult. When looking back on how the film did at the box office, Jason Blum told Bloody Disgusting, “It wasn’t a success. Creatively it was a success. I was happy with the movie. Financially it wasn’t a success." Audiences didn't seem to enjoy Black Christmas, and it has a 3.4/10 rating on IMDb.
Don't Let Go (2019): $5,215,062
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Don't Let Go was called Relive when it premiered at Sundance in 2019 and stars David Oyelowo as Detective Jack Barrett. When Jack learns that his niece Ashley Radcliff (Storm Reid) and her dad Garrett (Brian Tyree Henry) and mom Susan (Shinelle Azoroh) have been killed, it seems that Garrett was the one behind it. Ashley then calls Jack and he discovers that he is somehow and strangely talking to Ashley days before her death.
The movie feels like it has slasher and supernatural elements and is definitely worth checking out, with a strong story and good performances. The premise is definitely enough to draw people in as it's fascinating to think about how this can be happening. The best horror movies have excellent hooks but also great storytelling and both can be said of Don't Let Go.
Amityville: The Awakening (2017): $742
Fans might not have heard about the 2017 movie in the Amityville horror franchise, but it stars Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bella Thorne as a mother and daughter who move into the famous haunted house. The movie only made $742, as it was only in theaters for a single day and was also only on 10 theater screens. According to The A.V. Club, the movie was delayed four times. Since the second lowest-grossing Blumhouse horror movie made over $5 million, $742 is definitely low.
There are actually more than 20 movies in the franchise, with several films being released in a direct-to-video format in 2021 and 2022. Fans are likely most familiar with the original 1979 movie and the 2005 remake. The fact that the movie made $742 definitely made headlines at the time and is still surprising.